First name to go with middle name Charlene?

Girl Names
1

[name_m]Hi[/name_m], everyone!

I’m [name_f]Kat[/name_f], and I’m new here. Very excited to join the community!

So, I have a situation. My fiance and I are not pregnant yet, but do plan to be in the future. We’re all set on a boy name, but when it comes to a girl name, we’re at a stalemate.

I’m open to first names, but I really want the middle name to be [name_f]Charlene[/name_f], after my mom who I’m very close to and who is very sick. It would also mean a lot to her.

My mom’s nickname growing up was [name_u]Charlie[/name_u], and I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] it as a first name, so I did propose that idea first. My fiance HATES it.

So, I thought [name_f]Charlene[/name_f] as a middle name would be a good compromise. He also hates it. He then suggested [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] as a middle name. [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]'s pretty, but it’s just not my mom’s name, at all.

After all that, he says he is slightly open to [name_f]Charlene[/name_f] as a middle name, but only if we can find a first name we love that goes with it. Well, no luck so far!

These are the first names we’ve liked so far: [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f], [name_u]Teagan[/name_u], [name_f]Alaina[/name_f], [name_f]Jade[/name_f], and [name_f]Aurora[/name_f]. We fell in love with [name_u]Teagan[/name_u] especially.

We don’t really like any of them with [name_f]Charlene[/name_f], but what do you think? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like any of them?

If anyone has any other suggestions, I could really use the help! We want something beautiful and unique, but not TOO unique, like, say, [name_f]Apple[/name_f].

I’m Italian and Irish and he’s Irish and Scottish. We like the idea of a name with origins from our roots, but we’re open to anything!

Oh, and I’d also love any names with a strong meaning!

Thank-you for your help in advance! :smiley:

2

I like [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f].
Other suggestions:
[name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Maya[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Cora[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Blythe[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Ariella[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Gabriella[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Miranda[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Natalia[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Rhianna[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]

3

I don’t think [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f], [name_f]Alaina[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f] or [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f] are that bad? It’s a shame your fiance vetoed [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] as [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] [name_u]Teagan[/name_u] would be adorable!
Similar names to [name_f]Charlene[/name_f] (although I totally understand why you would want to stick to the original): [name_f]Aileen[/name_f], [name_f]Eileen[/name_f], [name_f]Marlene[/name_f]
Some Irish suggestions: [name_f]Aoife[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f], [name_f]Brianna[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f], Caera [name_f]Charlene[/name_f], [name_f]Ida[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f], [name_f]Mairead[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f], [name_f]Meara[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f], [name_f]Una[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]

4

[name_f]Sophie[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabella[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Nadia[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Miranda[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Delilah[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Paige[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Danica[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Emma[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Stella[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Zara[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Freya[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Petra[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Annika[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_u]Harper[/name_u] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Isaura[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_u]Juniper[/name_u] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Katya[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Linnea[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Maura[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
Versper [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Hester[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Thisbe[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_u]Rue[/name_u] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_u]Everly[/name_u] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Brynn[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]

5

I like [name_f]Alaina[/name_f] and [name_u]Teagan[/name_u] from your list. [name_f]Alaina[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f] sounds nice.

[name_m]How[/name_m] about-

[name_f]Thea[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Thora[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Sienna[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Briony[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f] (this sounds really nice together!)
[name_f]Georgia[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_u]Paisley[/name_u] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]

6

[name_f]Welcome[/name_f]!

The great thing about [name_f]Charlene[/name_f] as a middle name is that the stressed second syllable makes it work well rhythmically with a ton of first names - I think this is why [name_f]Marie[/name_f] became so popular as a middle name. So even if it’s not your fiancé’s very favourite name, it will still sound pretty good with a lot of first names (and I see what he’s going for with [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and it does make sense, but [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] stresses the first syllable and thus isn’t as versatile rhythmically).

From your list, I think [name_f]Alaina[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f] (though I prefer the [name_f]Elena[/name_f] spelling), [name_f]Jade[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f], and [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f] work the best. Rhythmically they all flow well, and they don’t repeat many sounds - I love [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] and for real-life purposes it would work fine with [name_f]Charlene[/name_f], but the “L” and long “e” sounds they share don’t make it sound as good to me. [name_u]Teagan[/name_u] and [name_f]Charlene[/name_f] similarly share the long “e” sound (I assume you’re pronouncing it TEE-gun?) and both end in an “n” sound, which doesn’t sound as good to me as the others, though again, it would be a perfectly usable combo in real life.

Some others you might like (sorry for any repeats):

[name_f]Mariska[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_u]Keeva[/name_u] or [name_f]Caoimhe[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucia[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Calista[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Stella[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Gemma[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f] (if you’re in the UK, this won’t seem unusual at all, but elsewhere it feels fresher)
[name_f]Isla[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Naomi[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Leila[/name_f] or [name_f]Layla[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Norah[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Francesca[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Johanna[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Maia[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Milena[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Freya[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]

7

Thank-you, everyone, for your wonderful responses! They’ve helped a lot!

I fell in love with so many of the names you shared! I especially loved:

[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] (This name has always been a favorite of mine! )
[name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]
[name_f]Maia[/name_f]
[name_f]Freya[/name_f] (Another huge favorite!)
[name_f]Briony[/name_f]
[name_f]Georgia[/name_f] (I also love the longer [name_f]Georgiana[/name_f]; the nickname [name_u]Georgie[/name_u] is absolutely adorable!)
[name_u]Harper[/name_u]
[name_f]Linnea[/name_f]
[name_f]Thisbe[/name_f]
[name_u]Rue[/name_u]
[name_u]Everly[/name_u]
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f]
[name_f]Mairead[/name_f]

I shared them all with my fiance and he actually liked a few with [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]! I’m very excited. He also wants to consider our favorite from my own list, [name_u]Teagan[/name_u], so yay! :slight_smile:

I loved the suggestion to use names that sound similar to [name_f]Charlene[/name_f], like [name_f]Marlene[/name_f]. I like that idea way better than [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], for some reason. It sounds a bit closer to my mom’s name, to me. So, there’s that to consider now, as well! :slight_smile:

Thanks again for your help, everyone! And thank-you for the welcome!

  • [name_f]Kat[/name_f]
8

Well, since you both share Irish roots, that could be a way to go:

[name_f]Briana[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Keara[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Orla[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_u]Reagan[/name_u] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f] (since you like [name_u]Teagan[/name_u])
[name_f]Riona[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Talulla[/name_f] [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]